Undifferentiated Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Mimicking Hodgkin Lymphoma With CD30 Expression

Abstract

The presence of CD30-expressing Hodgkin-like cells with a background of inflammation and eosinophils in a young adolescent is usually diagnostic of classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Herein we present the case of a 12-year-old boy presenting with enlarged cervical lymph node characterized by the presence of Hodgkin-like cells expressing CD30 and EBV-LMP1 with a Hodgkin-like background. The Hodgkin-like cells were negative for CD15, CD20, CD45, and Pax-5. The tumor cells, however, expressed several cytokeratins, confirming the diagnosis of an undifferentiated carcinoma nasopharyngeal type. This case highlights the importance of possessing a high index of suspicion when encountering lymph nodes with Hodgkin-like cells and a Hodgkin-like background, even with CD30 expression, as the differential can include undifferentiated carcinoma nasopharyngeal type.